Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
Introduced
Summary
Strengthens and funds Women’s Business Centers to expand support for women entrepreneurs. It creates a grant-based Women’s Business Center program at the Small Business Administration with accreditation, oversight, matching rules, and a designated Office of Women’s Business Ownership to run it.
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- Women entrepreneurs and households: More tailored counseling and training on starting and growing businesses, accessing credit, managing cash flow, and marketing. Grants emphasize services for socially and economically disadvantaged women.
- Grantees and local partners: Eligible organizations can receive initial and continuation grants up to $300,000 per year for 5-year terms and may get up to 25% of funds in advance. Matching rules require $1 non-Federal for every $2 Federal in the first two years and $1 for $1 thereafter.
- SBA operations and program integrity: The law requires pre-award site visits, annual program and financial exams, an accreditation program, and detailed annual reporting to Congress. Administrative costs are capped around 2.5% and at least $500,000 a year is set aside for accreditation and a conference.
*Authorizes $31.5 million each year for FY2026 through FY2029 for grants, increasing federal spending over that period.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Up to $300,000 yearly grants
If enacted, the bill would let the SBA award grants of up to $300,000 per year to eligible organizations to run women's business centers. Grants would run in 5-year terms and continuation grants could start the day after a prior term ends. The Administrator could adjust the annual amount each year for inflation. Existing nonprofit grantees under pre-enactment rules would keep their current terms and could receive a transitional grant through the end of the third fiscal year after enactment.
New SBA Women's Business Center program
If enacted, the bill would create a Women's Business Center Program inside the SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership. An Assistant Administrator would oversee budgets, accreditation, a national clearinghouse, and interagency coordination. The bill would define resource partners like Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, and Veteran Business Outreach Centers and require the SBA to keep applications for at least five years and reduce paperwork where practicable. The SBA would have to issue rules to implement the program within 270 days and allow at least 60 days for public comment.
Required services at women's centers
If enacted, the bill would require funded women's business centers to offer counseling and training tailored to women, with special emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged women. Centers would need to provide business formation help, financial training on loans and investment, preparing financial statements, and cash-flow management. They would also provide management planning and marketing help, including pricing, market identification, contract opportunities, negotiation, and public relations. The Administrator could add other services as needed.
Who can run women's centers
If enacted, the bill would define which organizations can get grants to run women's business centers. Eligible entities would include 501(c) nonprofits, state or local economic development organizations that certify they will not commingle grant funds, institutions of higher education (unless they have certain prior SBA grants), and state-chartered development or finance corporations that make the same non-commingling certification. Combinations of these entities would also be allowed.
New grant application requirements
If enacted, the bill would require applicants to submit a 5-year plan for each center showing services to be offered, market needs, and how required matching funds would be obtained. Applicants would need to show experience serving disadvantaged women, plans to work with resource partners, and certify an executive director or manager and OMB-level accounting compliance. These rules would raise application paperwork and certification burdens, while aiming to ensure grantees can run effective centers.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 7/21/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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